Carrier and foldable blank for making same

ABSTRACT

A carrier for beverage cups comprising a foldable paperboard blank having holes through which the cup bodies fit but which engage enlarged cup rims. Portions of the blank are foldable to form a cover over the cups, handles and locking tabs. Access to the cups is provided by tearing along perforations.

mted States Patent [151 3,661,17 lnman 1 y 9, 1972 CARRIER AND FOLDABLEBLANK FOR ry miner-Even C. Blunk MAKING SAME Assistant Examiner-JohnnyD. Cherry Attorney-Cushman, Darby & Cushman [72] Inventor: Richard B.lnman, 3155 Spaulding Drive,

Dunwoody, Ga. 30338 [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: 1970 A carrier forbeverage cups comprising a foldable paperboard [21 A N 31,724 blankhaving holes through which the cup bodies fit but which engage enlargedcup rims. Portions of the blank are foldable to form a cover over thecups, handles and locking tabs. Ac-

(g1. 294/8712;6 cess to the cups is provided y tearing alongperforations.

[58] Field of Search ..294/87.2; 206/65 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,281,180 10/1966 Spery..294/87.2

3,073,644 1/1963 Baker et al ..294/87.2

PATENTEDMAY 9 I972 SHEET 1 BF 3 IN VENTOR PATENTEDMAY 9|972 3,661,417

sum 2 0? 3 ATTORNEYS PATENTEBMAY 9mm 3,661,417

sum 3 [IF 3 I NNNNNN OR F/ 0/9/9003 [haw/4W CARRIER AND FOLDABLE BLANKFOR MAKING SAME The present invention relates to a carrier and moreparticularly to a carrier for beverage cups, containers and otherarticles. More specifically, the invention relates to a sheet havingholes large enough to fit around the body of such article but smallenough to engage an enlarged part of the article and support it.Portions of the sheet are foldable to form a handle for lifting thecarrier and portions of the sheet are cut to provide tabs which locktogether the various parts of the carrier. The invention is particularlyadapted to relatively lightweight articles, and provides an easilyformed, inexpensive carrier which also is easy to open for access to thearticles. a

The invention will be understood more clearly from the followingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment, reference being made tothe drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, from above, of the carrier with plasticdrinking cups supported in it;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carrier and cups from below;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the blank from which the carrier is formed; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a beverage cup useful for the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the blank 1 is made of paperboard, e.g., about 5-30mils thick or any similar sheet material which has five panels indicatedby the numbers 2-6. The center panel 6 is flat and, in the illustratedembodiment, has six holes 7 through it cut to the shape of the top ofthe body 8 of a plastic drinking cup 9. The six tabs are arranged in tworows of three holes each, although it will be appreciated that otherpatterns of holes may be used and there may be as many holes as desired.

Between the rows there are four slots 10, 10', 10" and 10" spaced alonga mid-line of the center panel 6 which is perpendicular'to the parallelside edges of the blank 1.

The panels 4 and 5 are on opposite sides of the panel 6 and each issubstantially equal to one-half the size of the panel-6,

so that, when folded over the panel 6 to be edge-to-edge with eachother, they form a cover of the same size and shape as the panel 6.Spaced along the outer edges 11 and 11' of each of panels 4 and 5 thereare four tabs, indicated by the numbers 12 and 12', 13 and 13, 14 and 14and 15 and 15. Each of these tabs is cutfrom the blank 1 along threesides and is attached to the blank along edges 11 and 11'. The cutsaround the tabs extend to these edges so that, when the tabs and panels4 and 5 are separated, the tabs are not attached to panels 4 and 5 andare connected to the carrier only along edges 11 and 11'. Each tab hastwo prongs l6'and 16 extending outwardly from a tip portion 17 which isconnected to the carrier by a shank portion 18. The slots 10, 10, 10"and 10" which receive these tabs are slightly wider than the shankportions 18 but are narrower than the tip portion to lock the tabs inthe slots. The distance along shank portion 18, from edge 11 to the tipportion is slightly more than'twice the thickness of blank 1.

The outer panels 2 and 3 are tapered from the side edges of the blank 1toward outeredges 19 and 19 and are the same size and shape as eachother so that, when folded against each other, they form a single,unitary handle. In outer panel 2 there is a trapezoidal hole 20, theparallel edges of which are parallel to the outer edge 19 andperpendicular to the side edges of the blank, the wider parallel edge ofthe trapezoid being closer to the outer edge 19. In panel 3, there is atrapezoidal flap 21 of the same size and shape as hole 20, cut from thepanel 3 along edges 22, 23 and 24. The flap is attached to panel 3 alongedge 25 which is the wider parallel edge of the trapezoid and which isthe edge closest to outer edge 19. The blank is scored along edge 25 sothat the flap is foldable along that edge. The flap is aligned with hole20 so that the flap 21 can fold through hole 20 when a handle is formedfrom panels 2 and 3, and against the outer surface of panel 2. Toprevent the flap from interfering with use of the handle, the distancebetween edges 19 and is greater than the width of the flap between edges23 and 25 so that, when folded, the flap will not extend beyond edges 19and 19'.

The blank 1 also has two narrow strips 26 and 27. extending across itperpendicular to its parallel side edges which becomes spacers betweenthe center panel 6 and the panels 4 and 5, respectively.

The blank is scored along edges 11 and 11, that is in the portions ofthose edgesbetween tabs 12, 13, 14 and 15 and between tabs 12, 13', 14'and 15. Along edges 28 and 29, where strips 26 and 27 join panels 4 and5, respectively, the blank is perforated, and. along edges 30 and 31where those strips join the-center panel 6, the blank is scored. As usedherein, such score lines and perforation lines are referred to as foldlines having reduced resistance to bending.

A cup 9, useful for the'carrier of FIGS. 1-3, is illustrated in FIG. 4.It has a body portion 8 formed byan upright side wall, extendingupwardly from a bottom 32- (see FIG. 2). At the top of the side wall,there is an enlarged part comprised of a bead 33 which extends upwardlyand outwardly and which may be formed by rolling the sheet material fromwhich the cup body is formed. The body portion 8 is small enough to fitthrough one of the holes 7 in the carrier, but the bead 33 is not; itrests on the center panel 6, adjacent the edge of a hole 7, when the cupbody is inserted through that hole.

In use, the blank is folded inwardly at right angles along lines 28, 29,30 and 31 so that panels 4 and 5 will cover center panel 6 and the cupsin the hole 7, which preferably are themselves covered with, say,plastic film. The outer panels 2 and 3 are folded outwardly at rightangles along lines 11 and 11' to be flush against each other, and sothat tabs 12, 12, 13, l3, l4, 14', 15 and 15' are perpendicular topanels 4, 5 and 6. These tabs are pressed through and locked into slots10, 10', 10" and 10" and the flap 21 is folded through hole 20 andagainst the outside of panel 2. To open the carrier and gain access tothe cups, one tears along the perforated edges 28 and 29.

It will be appreciated that, while a preferred embodiment has beendescribed, various changes may be made in details of construction andmode of operation without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A carrier for cups and similar articles having a body portion and anenlarged portion which is wider than the body portion, said carriercomprising a center panel having at least one hole therethrough toreceive said body portion but support said enlarged portion,

a pair of cover panels connected to outer edges of said center panelextending towards each other and covering over said center panel,

a pair of handle panels, connected to the inner edges of said coverpanels, extending upwardly therefrom and against each other to form ahandle,

and tabs extending downwardly from each of said inner edges, throughslots in said center panel and laterally outwardly from said slots undersaid center panel so that said handle supports said center panel andsaid cover panels.

2. A carrier as set forth in claim 1 including narrow strips connectingbetween the outer edges of said center panel and the outer edges of saidcover panels.

3. A carrier as set forth in claim 1 in which there is a hole in a firstone of said handle panels and a flap cut from the other handle panel andfoldably connected thereto in alignment with the hole in the firsthandle panel so as to be foldable through said hole and against saidfirst handle panel to lock the handle panels together and provide a gripfor said handle.

4. A carrier as set forth in claim 1 in which there are perforationsbetween at least one of the outer edges of said center panel and thecover panel to which it is connected so that the cover panel and centerpanel can be separated by tearing along said perforations to gain accessto the cups.

5. A carrier for cups and similar articles having a body portion and anenlarged portion which is wider than the body portion, said carriercomprising a center panel having at least one hole therethrough toreceive said body portion but support said enlarged portion,

a pair of cover panels connected to outer edges of said center panelextending towards each other and covering over said center panel,

a pair of handle panels, connected to the inner edges of said coverpanels, extending upwardly therefrom and against each other to form ahandle,

tabs extending downwardly from each of said inner edges, through slotsin said center panel and laterally outwardly from said slots under saidcenter panel so that said handle supports said center panel and saidcover panels,

narrow strips connecting between the outer edges of said center paneland the outer edges of said cover panels,

there being a hole in a first one of said handle panels and a flap cutfrom the other handle panel and foldably connected thereto in alignmentwith the hole in the first handle panel so as to be foldable throughsaid hole and against said first handle panel to lock the handle panelstogether and provide a grip for said handle.

6. A foldable blank sheet for forming a carrier for cups having a bodyportion and an enlarged portion which is wider than the body portion,said blank sheet comprising a center panel having at least one holetherethrough to receive said body portion but support said enlarged por-On,

a pair of cover panels connected to outer edges of said center panelalong fold lines having reduced resistance to bending, said coverpanels, when folded towards each other, forming a cover whichsubstantially covers said center panel,

a pair of handle panels connected to outer edges of said cover panelsalong fold lines having reduced resistance to bending, the handle panelsbeing foldable to lie against each when said cover is formed to providea handle,

tabs cut from said cover panels adjacent said fold lines connecting saidcover panels to said handle panels and attached to said blank sheet onlyalong said fold lines, there being slits in said center panel positionedto lockably receive said tabs when said cover and handle are formed,said tabs each comprising a portion adjacent said fold lines whichportion is narrower than said slits and a distal portion which is widerthan said slit to lock behind said center panel,

7. A blank sheet as set forth in claim 6 including narrow stripsconnecting between the said center panel and said cover panels, saidnarrow strips being connected to said center panel and said cover panelsalong fold lines having reduced resistance to bending.

8. A blank sheet as set forth in claim 7 in which there is a hole in afirst one of said handle panels and a flap cut from the other handlepanel and foldably connected thereto in alignment with the hole in thefirst handle panel so as to be foldable through said hole and againstsaid first handle panel to lock the handle panels together and provide agrip for said handle.

9. A carrier as set forth in claim 6 in which said fold line between atleast one of the outer edges of said center panel and at least one ofthe cover panels is perforated so that the cover panel and center panelcan be separated by tearing along said perforations.

1% 0 t I i

1. A carrier for cups and similar articles having a body portion and anenlarged portion which is wider than the body portion, said carriercomprising a center panel having at least one hole therethrough toreceive said body portion but support said enlarged portion, a pair ofcover panels connected to outer edges of said center panel extendingtowards each other and covering over said center panel, a pair of handlepanels, connected to the inner edges of said cover panels, extendingupwardly therefrom and against each other to form a handle, and tabsextending downwardly from each of said inner edges, through slots insaid centEr panel and laterally outwardly from said slots under saidcenter panel so that said handle supports said center panel and saidcover panels.
 2. A carrier as set forth in claim 1 including narrowstrips connecting between the outer edges of said center panel and theouter edges of said cover panels.
 3. A carrier as set forth in claim 1in which there is a hole in a first one of said handle panels and a flapcut from the other handle panel and foldably connected thereto inalignment with the hole in the first handle panel so as to be foldablethrough said hole and against said first handle panel to lock the handlepanels together and provide a grip for said handle.
 4. A carrier as setforth in claim 1 in which there are perforations between at least one ofthe outer edges of said center panel and the cover panel to which it isconnected so that the cover panel and center panel can be separated bytearing along said perforations to gain access to the cups.
 5. A carrierfor cups and similar articles having a body portion and an enlargedportion which is wider than the body portion, said carrier comprising acenter panel having at least one hole therethrough to receive said bodyportion but support said enlarged portion, a pair of cover panelsconnected to outer edges of said center panel extending towards eachother and covering over said center panel, a pair of handle panels,connected to the inner edges of said cover panels, extending upwardlytherefrom and against each other to form a handle, tabs extendingdownwardly from each of said inner edges, through slots in said centerpanel and laterally outwardly from said slots under said center panel sothat said handle supports said center panel and said cover panels,narrow strips connecting between the outer edges of said center paneland the outer edges of said cover panels, there being a hole in a firstone of said handle panels and a flap cut from the other handle panel andfoldably connected thereto in alignment with the hole in the firsthandle panel so as to be foldable through said hole and against saidfirst handle panel to lock the handle panels together and provide a gripfor said handle.
 6. A foldable blank sheet for forming a carrier forcups having a body portion and an enlarged portion which is wider thanthe body portion, said blank sheet comprising a center panel having atleast one hole therethrough to receive said body portion but supportsaid enlarged portion, a pair of cover panels connected to outer edgesof said center panel along fold lines having reduced resistance tobending, said cover panels, when folded towards each other, forming acover which substantially covers said center panel, a pair of handlepanels connected to outer edges of said cover panels along fold lineshaving reduced resistance to bending, the handle panels being foldableto lie against each when said cover is formed to provide a handle, tabscut from said cover panels adjacent said fold lines connecting saidcover panels to said handle panels and attached to said blank sheet onlyalong said fold lines, there being slits in said center panel positionedto lockably receive said tabs when said cover and handle are formed,said tabs each comprising a portion adjacent said fold lines whichportion is narrower than said slits and a distal portion which is widerthan said slit to lock behind said center panel.
 7. A blank sheet as setforth in claim 6 including narrow strips connecting between the saidcenter panel and said cover panels, said narrow strips being connectedto said center panel and said cover panels along fold lines havingreduced resistance to bending.
 8. A blank sheet as set forth in claim 7in which there is a hole in a first one of said handle panels and a flapcut from the other handle panel and foldably connected thereto inalignment with the hole in the first handle panel so as to be foldablethrough said hole and against said first handle paNel to lock the handlepanels together and provide a grip for said handle.
 9. A carrier as setforth in claim 6 in which said fold line between at least one of theouter edges of said center panel and at least one of the cover panels isperforated so that the cover panel and center panel can be separated bytearing along said perforations.